Exclusive Gyms For Members Of Congress Deemed ‘Essential,’ Remain Open During Shutdown

[n2doc]

Head Start programs have been shuttered, small businesses can’t get loans and hundreds of thousands of federal government employees are furloughed. But the exclusive gyms available only to members of Congress have remained open throughout the shutdown.

A House aide confirmed to ThinkProgress that the House member’s gym is open. The House gym features a swimming pool, basketball courts, paddleball courts, a sauna, a steam room and flat screen TVs. While towel service is unavailable, taxpayers remain on the hook for cleaning and maintenance, which has been performed daily throughout the shutdown. There are also costs associated with the power required to heat the pools and keep the lights on.

According to the aide, the decision to keep the gym open — even while other critical government services were shelved — came directly from Speaker Boehner’s office. Meanwhile, the staff gym available to Congressional staff has been closed.

It appears that the members gym in the Senate remains open on similar terms. Yesterday, Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) complained to a reporter from the Omaha World-Herald that the members gym was getting “rank.”

more

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2013/10/08/2748461/members-only-congressional-gyms-deemed-essential-remain-open-during-shutdown/

[TheMastersNemesis]

1. Reminds Me Of Officers And Generals Look From Afar As Their Troops Are Dying In Battle.

[LongTomH]

2. Wonkette is weighing in on this with their usual biting commentary

John Boehner Declares Congressional Gym Essential, Head Start Not So Much:

While Republicans hold pretty much the entire U.S. of America hostage until the Usurper-in-Chief agrees to defund himself back to Kenya and stop personally paying to keep that Museum o’ Muslims open with all that money he made from his autobiography written by Bill Ayers, we have an excellent opportunity to find out exactly what is and is not essential to keeping us USA! USA! No. 1!!!!!. Like, cancer treatment for The ChildrenTM? Nope, not essential. Head Start, the program that educamacates those same The Children? Also nope. The members-only congressional gym where you can imagine — if you are a masochist — Paul Ryan P90Xing to Stairway while Rep. Virginia Foxxxxxxxx gets her squats on? Why yes.

[riderinthestorm]

3. This needs to go viral. K&R

[TRoN33]

4. I'd bet...

That all of congressmen/women never cleaned out after using the treadmills like YMCA's members does. They got their own maid service that are doing all of the dirty works for them. I wonder how much these treadmills costs...

[florida08]

5. heard this crap

On the radio this morning but hadn't see an article. Thanks now I have evidence. A big FU to federal employess and everyone else hurting because of them

[riderinthestorm]

6. Evening kick nt

[Cha]

7. Yeah, teabagger assholes who caused to Shutdown must have their

luxuries.

[MichiganVote]

8. K&R

[cui bono]

9. Are you fucking kidding me???

The gym is getting "rank"? The House has been "rank" for quite some time, haven't heard him mention that.

And wait a second, is there a House gym and a Senate gym? The article mentions House gym...

[Ilsa]

10. Well, you know, senators are

so much better than their House counterparts, that they need their own separate gym.

[riderinthestorm]

11. Late pm kick nt